Billy Cobham – “Spectrum”

Spectrum was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City in mid-May of 1973. While still in the Mahavishnu Orchestra, drummer Billy Cobham decided to record his own album. Bringing keyboard player Jan Hammer along from Mahavishnu and giving guitarist Tommy Bolin his real first spotlight opportunity proved to be brilliant ideas. Spectrum is full of accessible jazz-rock numbers that instantly propelled the album to classic status. “Stratus” is the most famous cut from the album. It featured an in-the-pocket groove so cavernous that bats lived in it. Cobham’s flailing, but precise drum work, Hammer’s amazing Moog synthesizer volleys and especially Tommy Bolin’s fiery guitar are now a part of jazz-fusion lore. The music was influenced by the power of the Mahavishnu Orchestra but its R & B and funk elements pushed it into another more accessible direction. The album immediately raised Cobham’s stock and he was able to receive generous recording funds to help him put out a series of fusion albums under his own name. But he would never quite again have the impact he had with Spectrum. That’s not unusual. You can only be new once. That is unless you are Miles Davis or John McLaughlin or somebody like that. At any rate, Spectrum stands as one of the towering achievements of the entire fusion era and is loved, admired and influencing to this day. – Walter Kolosky